It’s frustrating and overwhelming when you’re trying to start a family but can’t seem to get pregnant. For most people getting pregnant is a no-brainer. It’s as simple as having sex!
Yet, many experience difficulties conceiving. Commonly referred to as infertility, this is characterized by the inability to get pregnant after one year of regular, unprotected sex. The good news is you’re not alone. Even people who already have children can experience infertility.
According to experts, an estimated 15 percent of couples will experience infertility in their lifetime. Let’s look at some facts.
Today, conception can happen in two main ways:
· Naturally – through sexual intercourse
· Medically assisted – with the help of a fertility specialist
Natural Conception
Pregnancy starts when an egg is fertilized by a sperm in the fallopian tube and ends when it is successfully implanted in the uterus, followed by the gestational period.
Here are some of the best ways to improve your chances of getting pregnant:
The first thing you should do is throw out your birth control! You’re not going to need them on this journey.
Know When You Ovulate
Ovulation is the release of a mature egg from one of your ovaries during your cycle. You are most likely to get pregnant around this time. You can find out when you’re ovulating or about to in one of these ways:
· Use fertility charts to help you to track your cycle to know the best days to get pregnant.
· Use an ovulation calculator or predictor kit to test your urine daily until it comes back positive. A positive result indicates that you will ovulate within a day or two.
· Measure your basal body temperature. By taking your body’s lowest core temperature first thing each morning, you will identify a pattern of increase in body temperature. The increase takes place two days after ovulation and persists for ten days or more.

Monitoring your temperature helps you figure out when you’re likely to ovulate and the best time to have sex.
Observe the Signs
· The texture of vaginal secretions differs depending on where you are in your cycle. Around the time of ovulation, it is slippery and wet. Your fertile window is open, and it’s the ideal time for you and your partner to start having lots of sex.
· Premenstrual symptoms such as tender breasts, bloating, and mood swings are also excellent indicators of ovulation.
Medically Assisted Conception
If you have tried getting pregnant for a year or more with no success, you should visit your gynecologist to determine what’s awry and discuss your options. It’s vital to get more information on why you’re not able to get pregnant naturally.
It is also essential for you and your partner to share your medical history, medications you take daily, genetic conditions, and lifestyle practices such as smoking and alcohol consumption. Additionally, female fertility declines with age, so medically assisted reproduction may be a viable option for you, depending on how old you are. Thankfully there are options:

· One option is intrauterine Insemination. It involves preparing sperm collected from your partner and then inserting it into your uterus.
· Or you may prefer in-vitro fertilization. In this method, your egg is fertilized in a laboratory using sperm from your partner. The resulting embryo incubates for several days before being implanted in your womb.
Nutritional Facts
Nutrition is an essential part of our daily lives, and conception planning is no exception. Your body will be under immense pressure during pregnancy as you support the precious life you’re
Carrying some of the basic principles you should practice when preparing for and during pregnancy include: · Eating whole foods such as organic fruits, vegetables, and nuts with little or no processing. Try to eat as naturally as possible. This maximizes the number of nutrients you get from your meals and reduces the intake of toxins and other harmful chemicals.
· Focus on a balanced diet
· Foods high in omega-3s are essential for eye and brain development
· Avoid soy, refined sugar, alcohol, and processed foods that have been stripped of their nutritional value.

Becoming pregnant can be a challenge. However, taking into consideration and implementing the above practices are sure to aid in this beautiful, life-changing, and life-creating process.